Other News

Maybe you've heard about it already, but former Seattle PI reporter and columnist Dorothy Parvaz has gone missing in Syria.

Journalists take risks to make sure people’s stories are told, to shine a light on wrongdoing based on the belief that public awareness is the first step toward positive change. Today happens to be World Press Freedom Day, this year hosted by the U.S.

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Helicopters descended out of darkness on the most important counterterrorism mission in U.S. history. It was an operation so secret, only a select few U.S. officials knew what was about to happen.

The location was a fortified compound in an affluent area north of the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. The target was Osama bin Laden.

Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that killed thousands of Americans, was killed in an operation led by the United States, President Obama said Sunday. Bin Laden was 54.

A small team of Americans killed bin Laden in a firefight at a compound in Pakistan, the president said in a dramatic late-night statement at the White House.

Details about bin Laden's death are still emerging. But his life ran a fascinating trajectory: from the pampered son of a Saudi millionaire to the world's most-wanted terrorist.

A small team of Americans killed Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the Sept. 11 attacks, in a firefight Sunday at a compound in Pakistan, President Obama said in a dramatic late-night statement at the White House.

A jubilant crowd gathered outside the White House as word spread. of bin Laden's death after a global manhunt that lasted nearly a decade.

"Justice has been done," Obama said.

The southern part of the U.S. – Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California – will likely have significant wildfires this year. Already fire crews are battling more than a dozen fires just in Texas. But here in the Northwest, the fire outlook is much rosier.

Making headlines around the Northwest this morning:

• Catholic Order Which Runs O'Day H.S. Files Chapter 11
• Panel Approves New 520 Bridge
• Funnel Cloud Appears Over Skagit County
• NFL Draft: Titans take Locker; 'Hawks go for Alabama lineman

Christian Brothers Catholic Order Files for Bankruptcy

The Christian Brothers, a Catholic religious order that runs schools in Seattle and across the country, has filed for bankruptcy. It is the second Catholic order in the United States to do so because of sexual abuse claims.

I got a sneak preview of the new Seattle headquarters of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Wednesday evening, courtesy of Bill Foege, one of several Bills there.

Foege’s title at the Gates Foundation is “senior fellow.” But that doesn’t really tell you much, except to imply he’s old. It certainly doesn’t tell you how tall he is. He’s a very tall senior fellow.

More importantly than what I think, Foege appears to have been one of the key inspirations for Bill and Melinda Gates’ philanthropic mission. That’s basically what Melinda Gates said yesterday to the philanthropy’s staff after introducing those attending to their new home.

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Here's what's making headlines around the Northwest this morning:

• Last Blast of Winter Today?
• Summer Ferry Surcharge Starts This Weekend
• Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound Under Investigation
• Starbucks Profits Up 20%;  Microsoft to Release 3Q Numbers Today

Really? Warmer, Drier Weather Ahead

It's almost May, but parts of western Washington could still get snow today. But that could be the last of it.

More than 1,000 uninsured people are expected to receive medical care in Tacoma on Saturday.

It's the first large-scale free-clinic event in Washington state, which has about 850,000 uninsured residents. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Tacoma Dome. It's sponsored by the National Association of Free Clinics and the Washington Free Clinic Association.